Year: 2014
Medium: High Definition Television
Dimensions: 1920x1080
Description:
I directed and served as cinematographer for this award-winning live-action commercial for Bug Soother, an all-natural insect repellent manufactured by Simply Soothing in Columbus Junction, Iowa.
Because Simply Soothing is a strong supporter of the local economy, we cast local talent through an extensive casting process. We also assembled a crew from within a three-county area, keeping both performance and production rooted in the community.
The spot was filmed in a single day at Hidden Acres, a backwater of the Mississippi River north of Wapello, Iowa. To capture cinematic imagery, I operated a jib-mounted RED One Digital Cinema Camera entirely from a floating dock that was towed into position on the river.
In post-production, I used a RED digital workflow, grading the footage in Autodesk Smoke and added visual effects including rotoscoping and compositing to achieve a polished, broadcast-ready look.
I was proud to bring in three recent graduates and two instructors from Southeastern Community College’s 3D Character Animation program, combining professional experience with emerging talent. The finished commercial aired in 2014 on Fox Sports Midwest, extending both the reach of the product and the visibility of the local creative community.